The Office of Institutional Research /AUC

Fall 2012

First Year Experience Program (FYE)

Mid Semester Survey Report

Prepared by Ola Anwar

Office of Institutional Research

Table of contents Page

____________________________________________________________________________

The Executive Summary 3

Section I: 4 Students’ experience with AUCs’ services & Facilities Q.1: During your first semester at AUC did you: Section II: 9 Students’ academic experience Evaluation Q.2: According to your experience during your first semester at AUC, were you able to Section III: 11 Students’ level of agreement with general statements Q.3: Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements: Analysis for the “Neutral” item in question #3 and compare it 14

with the Neutral percentage during Fall 2010. Section IV: 15 Q.4: In a typical week, how many hours do you spend Studying outside the classroom? Section V: Open ended question 16 Q.5: How do you describe your experience at AUC [Please indicate if you had a positive experience or if you faced any problem(s)]?

2

Executive Summary Introduction The Mid-Year Freshman Survey is designed to assess the freshman students’ opinion about their

experience from their first day at AUC until the day of the survey administration (October 16th, 2012)

The survey was developed by the Office of Institutional Research (OIR) in cooperation with the Core

Curriculum Office. The survey was distributed to the students on the 4th day of the FYE program in

October 16th, 2012. Nine hundred and twelve students (912) participated in the FYE program and 825

students completed and returned the survey (90.5%).

Methodology and Organization of the Report

It should be noted, as a technical comment, that we removed missing responses from the analysis

section and analyzed the entire survey without missing data. We trust removing missing data will paint a

clear picture of the FYE student’s opinions who participated in the Mid semester day.

This report is divided into five sections. In the first section, students’ experience with AUC’s services and

facilities is presented in a frequency table. In the second section students’ evaluation of their academic

experience is presented. In the third section, students’ levels of agreement with several general

statements about their life at AUC are presented. In this third section, the survey responses values are

collapsed into the four categories of “Combined Agree” (Strongly Agree and Agree); “Combined

Disagree” (Strongly Disagree and Disagree); “Neutral” and “NA” (not applicable). In the fourth section,

student’s spending hours studying outside the class room is presented. In the fifth section, open ended

question is presented.

3

Students’ distribution by section is shown in Table 1 page 4.

Students reported gender as follows: 53.5% ‘Female’ and 46.5% ‘Male’.

Students’ experience with AUCs’ services and facilities:

In this section we present students’ options to their exposure to AUCs’ services and facilities during the

first semester. The value of responses was Yes/No.

When we asked students if they:

Participate in the first-year experience program, students reported ‘yes’=94.8%, ‘no’=5%, 0.2%

‘NA’.

Declare a major, students reported ‘yes’=25.6%, ‘no’=72.1%, ‘NA’=2.3%.

Use the library facilities, students reported ‘yes’=90%, ‘no’=9.4%, 0.6% ‘NA’.

Use the writing center, students reported ‘yes’=12.2%, ‘no’=86.4%, ‘NA’=1.3%.

Use Turnition.com, students reported ‘yes’=71.2%, ‘no’=27.4%, ‘NA’=1.5%.

Learn about the core curriculum requirements, students reported ‘yes’=83.3%, ‘no’=15%,

‘NA’=1.7%.

Access the student portal, students reported ‘yes’=74%, ‘no’=23.8%, ‘NA’=2.2%.

Access and use the blackboard, students reported ‘yes’=98.7%, ‘no’=1.1%, ‘NA’=0.2%.

Access and use the web for students, students reported ‘yes’=49.8%, ‘no’=47%, ‘NA’=3.2%.

Join any extracurricular activity, students reported ‘yes’=51.3%, ‘no’=47.4%, ‘NA’=1.3%.

Attend a cultural event, students reported ‘yes’=16.4%, ‘no’=80.5%, ‘NA’=3.1%.

Read AUC announcements in your email account, students reported ‘yes’=93%, ‘no’=6.4%,

‘NA’=0.6%.

Follow AUC’s standards for academic integrity, students reported ‘yes’=92.9%, ‘no’=5.9%,

‘NA’=1.2%.

Make new friends, students reported ‘yes’=9.7%, ‘no’=2%, ‘NA’=1%.

Visit the Career Advising and Placement Services (CAPS), students reported ‘yes’=27%,

‘no’=70.7%, ‘NA’=2.3%.

Feel need to seek support for psychological difficulties?(i.e. problems with your friends,

family, emotions?), students reported ‘yes’=7.8%, ‘no’=89.2%, ‘NA’=3%.

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Section I

Descriptive Analysis for Section I

Table 1

Section # Frequency Percent

1 11 1.8%

2 6 1.0%

3 17 2.8%

4 12 2.0%

5 15 2.5%

6 3 0.5%

7 1 0.2%

8 18 3.0%

9 12 2.0%

10 14 2.3%

11 14 2.3%

12 15 2.5%

13 11 1.8%

14 14 2.3%

15 14 2.3%

16 13 2.1%

17 11 1.8%

18 13 2.1%

19 9 1.5%

20 1 0.2%

21 14 2.3%

22 15 2.5%

23 12 2.0%

24 15 2.5%

25 11 1.8%

26 14 2.3%

27 10 1.6%

28 11 1.8%

Missing (n= 215)

Table 1/cont..

Section # Frequency Percent

29 12 2.0%

31 13 2.1%

32 9 1.5%

33 7 1.1%

34 12 2.0%

35 1 0.2%

36 12 2.0%

37 8 1.3%

38 14 2.3%

39 14 2.3%

40 9 1.5%

41 12 2.0%

42 12 2.0%

43 19 3.1%

44 13 2.1%

45 15 2.5%

46 17 2.8%

47 6 1.0%

48 13 2.1%

49 10 1.6%

50 6 1.0%

51 11 1.8%

52 7 1.1%

53 10 1.6%

55 11 1.8%

56 10 1.6%

63 1 0.2%

Total 610 100.0%

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Table 2

Gender Frequency Percent

Male 377 46.5%

Female 434 53.5%

Total 811 100.0%

Missing (n=14)

Figure 2

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Table 3

Yes No NA Total

Participate in the first-year experience program 777 41 2 820

94.8% 5.0% 0.2% 100.0%

Declare a major 210 591 19 820

25.6% 72.1% 2.3% 100.0%

Use the library facilities 736 77 5 818

90.0% 9.4% 0.6% 100.0%

Use the writing center 100 707 11 818

12.2% 86.4% 1.3% 100.0%

Use Turnitin.com 583 224 12 819

71.2% 27.4% 1.5% 100.0%

Learn about the core curriculum requirements 682 123 14 819

83.3% 15.0% 1.7% 100.0%

Access the student portal 595 191 18 804

74.0% 23.8% 2.2% 100.0%

Access and use the blackboard 812 9 2 823

98.7% 1.1% 0.2% 100.0%

Access and use the web for students 401 379 26 806

49.8% 47.0% 3.2% 100.0%

Join any extracurricular activity 420 388 11 819

51.3% 47.4% 1.3% 100.0%

Attend a cultural event 133 654 25 812

16.4% 80.5% 3.1% 100.0%

Read AUC announcements in your email account 766 53 5 824

93.0% 6.4% 0.6% 100.0%

Follow AUC's standards for academic integrity 761 48 10 819

92.9% 5.9% 1.2% 100.0%

Make new friends 790 16 8 814

97.1% 2.0% 1.0% 100.0%

Visit the Career Advising and Placement Services (CAPS)

220 577 19 816

27.0% 70.7% 2.3% 100.0%

Feel the need to seek support for psychological difficulties? (I.e. problems with your friends, family, emotions?)

64 734 25 823

7.8% 89.2% 3.0% 100.0%

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Figure 3

Participate in the first-yearexperience program

Declare a major

Use the library facilities

Use the writing center

Use Turnitin.com

Learn about the core curriculumrequirements

Access the student portal

Access and use the blackboard

Access and use the web for students

Join any extracurricular activity

Attend a cultural event

Read AUC announcements in youremail account

Follow AUC's standards for academicintegrity

Make new friends

Visit the Career Advising andPlacement Services (CAPS)

Feel the need to seek support forpsychological difficulties? (ie.…

94.8%

25.6%

90.0%

12.2%

71.2%

83.3%

74.0%

98.7%

49.8%

51.3%

16.4%

93.0%

92.9%

97.1%

27.0%

7.8%

5.0%

72.1%

9.4%

86.4%

27.4%

15.0%

23.8%

1.1%

47.0%

47.4%

80.5%

6.4%

5.9%

2.0%

70.7%

89.2%

0.2%

2.3%

0.6%

1.3%

1.5%

1.7%

2.2%

0.2%

3.2%

1.3%

3.1%

0.6%

1.2%

1.0%

2.3%

3.0%

Yes No NA

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Students’ evaluation of their academic experience:

For the question, Manage your time effectively, 7.3% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 46.2% reported ’Easy’, 40.8% reported ‘Difficult’, 5.3% reported ‘Very difficult’ and 0.4% reported ‘NA.

For the question, Understand what is expected academically, 13% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 66.4% reported ‘Easy’, 17.9% reported ‘Difficult’, 2.2% reported ‘Very difficult’, and 0.5% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Develop effective study skills, 9% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 61.5% reported ‘Easy’, 24.7% reported ‘Difficult’, 2.8% reported ‘Very difficult’ and 2.1% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Establish meaningful connections with faculty, 10.6% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 57.7% reported ‘Easy’, 26% reported ‘Difficult’, 2.2% reported ‘Very difficult’ and 3.5% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Find out where to go for academic advising, 37% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 48.1% reported ‘Easy’, 10.9% reported ‘Difficult’, 1.8% reported ‘Very difficult’ and 2.1% reported ‘NA’ .

For the question, Find out where to go for student services, 21.1% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 49.4% reported ‘Easy’, 23.4% reported ‘Difficult’, 3% reported ‘Very difficult’ and 3.1% reported ‘NA’ .

For the question, Use your AUC e-mail, 75.6% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 23.1% reported ‘Easy’, 1% reported ‘Difficult’, no one reported ‘Very difficult’ and 0.2% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Access blackboard, 74.8% of students reported ‘Very Easy’, 23.4% reported ‘Easy’, 1.6% reported ‘Difficult’, no one reported ‘Very difficult’ and 0.2% reported ‘NA’.

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Section II

Descriptive Analysis for Section II

Table 4

Very Easy

Easy Difficult Very

Difficult NA Total

Manage your time effectively 60 378 334 43 3 818

7.3% 46.2% 40.8% 5.3% 0.4% 100.0%

Understand what is expected academically 105 538 145 18 4 810

13.0% 66.4% 17.9% 2.2% 0.5% 100.0%

Develop effective study skills 73 501 201 23 17 815

9.0% 61.5% 24.7% 2.8% 2.1% 100.0%

Establish meaningful connections with faculty 86 468 211 18 28 811

10.6% 57.7% 26.0% 2.2% 3.5% 100.0%

Find out where to go for academic advising 301 391 89 15 17 813

37.0% 48.1% 10.9% 1.8% 2.1% 100.0%

Find out where to go for student services 171 401 190 24 25 811

21.1% 49.4% 23.4% 3.0% 3.1% 100.0%

Use your AUC e-mail 618 189 8 - 2 817

75.6% 23.1% 1.0% 0% 0.2% 100.0%

Access Blackboard 614 192 13 - 2 821

74.8% 23.4% 1.6% 0% 0.2% 100.0%

Figure 4

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Students’ levels of agreement with several general statements about their life at AUC:

For the question, The mid semester FYE 4

th day is helpful, 36.8% of the students reported ‘combined

agree’, 27.3% reported ‘combined disagree’, 35.2% reported ‘neutral’ and 0.7% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, The workshop conducted by the registrar is useful, 29.7% of the students reported ‘combined agree’, 5.8% reported ‘combined disagree’, 38% reported ‘neutral’ and 26.5% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, The workshop conducted by the Freshman advisers is helpful, 39.5% of the students reported ‘combined agree’, 9.4% reported ‘combined disagree’, 31.7% reported ‘neutral’ and 19.4% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, The workshop conducted by the Career Advising and Placement Services (CAPS) is helpful, 24.6% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 4.8% reported ‘combined disagree’, 37.7% reported ‘neutral’ and 33% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Transition from school life to the university went smoothly, 57.2% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 16.6% reported ‘combined disagree’, 25.2% reported ‘neutral’ and 1% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, I have a positive experience at AUC since the beginning of classes, 62.9% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 7.4% only reported ‘combined disagree’, 29.1% reported ‘neutral’ and 0.6% reported ‘NA’

For the question, I was able to achieve a social life and academic balance, 67.9% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 6.5% reported ‘combined disagree’, 25.2% reported ‘neutral’ and 0.4% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, I was able to develop my time management skills, 44.7% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 17.6% reported ‘combined disagree’, 37.2% reported ‘neutral’ and 0.5% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, I was able to register for the courses I wanted, 48.9% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 18.6% reported ‘combined disagree’, 26.5% reported ‘neutral’ and 6% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Faculty members were available during the office hours, 64.6% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 4.2% reported ‘combined disagree’, 22.7% reported ‘neutral’ and 8.5% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Faculty members were available for consultation outside of class, 52.1% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 7.3% reported ‘combined disagree’, 32.6% reported ‘neutral’ and 8% reported ‘NA’.

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Section III

For the question, Classroom facilities were adequate for the needs of my courses, 68.7% of students reported ‘combined agree’, 6.4% reported ‘combined disagree’, 23.9% reported ‘neutral’ and 1% reported ‘NA’.

For the question, Library were adequate for my needs, 81.6% of students reported ‘combined agree’,

1.8% reported ‘combined disagree’, 14% reported ‘neutral’ and 2.6% reported ‘NA’

Descriptive Analysis for Section III

Table 5

Combined

Agree Combined Disagree

Neutral NA Total

The mid semester FYE 4th day is helpful. 301 223 288 6 818

36.8% 27.3% 35.2% 0.7% 100.0%

The workshop conducted by the Registrar is useful. 236 46 302 211 795

29.7% 5.8% 38.0% 26.5% 100.0%

The workshop conducted by the Freshmen Advisers is helpful.

315 75 253 155 798

39.5% 9.4% 31.7% 19.4% 100.0%

The workshop conducted by the Career Advising and Placement Services (CAPS) is helpful.

191 37 293 257 778

24.6% 4.8% 37.7% 33.0% 100.0%

Transition from school life to the university went smoothly.

463 134 204 8 809

57.2% 16.6% 25.2% 1.0% 100.0%

I have a positive experience at AUC since the beginning of classes.

510 60 236 5 811

62.9% 7.4% 29.1% 0.6% 100.0%

I was able to achieve a social life and academic balance.

553 53 205 3 814

67.9% 6.5% 25.2% 0.4% 100.0%

I was able to develop my time management skills. 364 143 303 4 814

44.7% 17.6% 37.2% 0.5% 100.0%

I was able to register for the courses I wanted. 397 151 215 49 812

48.9% 18.6% 26.5% 6.0% 100.0%

Faculty members were available during the office hours.

526 34 185 69 814

64.6% 4.2% 22.7% 8.5% 100.0%

Faculty members were available for consultation outside of class.

422 59 264 65 810

52.1% 7.3% 32.6% 8.0% 100.0%

Classroom facilities were adequate for the needs of my courses.

558 52 194 8 812

68.7% 6.4% 23.9% 1.0% 100.0%

Library facilities were adequate for my needs. 669 15 115 21 820

81.6% 1.8% 14.0% 2.6% 100.0%

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Figure 5

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Analysis for the “Neutral” item in question #3 and compare it with the Neutral percentage during Spring 2012: Table 1:1 shows the items where students reported a high neutral percentage. The survey questions related to students activities, time management, services and questions related to faculty members. Here we site literature regarding survey neutral items that suggest students may be evasive or indifferent when they report neutral (1). Table 1:1

Mid Semester Survey Questions

Neutral Percentage

Fall 2012 Spring 2012

The mid semester FYE 4th day is helpful 35.2%* 34.5%

The workshop conducted by the Registrar is useful. 38%* 27.3%

The workshop conducted by the Freshmen Advisers is helpful. 31.7%* 27.0%

The workshop conducted by the Career Advising and Placement Services (CAPS) is helpful.

37.7%* 30.9%

Transition from school to the university went smoothly. 25.2% 25.5%*

I have a positive experience at AUC since the beginning of classes 29.1%* 23.0%

I was able to achieve a social life and academic balance. 25.2%* 24.2%*

I was able to develop my time management skill. 37.2%* 33.9%

I was able to register for the courses I wanted. 26.5%* 23.6%

Faculty members were available during the office hours. 22.7%* 17.0%

Faculty members were available for consultation outside of class. 32.6%* 24.2%

Classroom facilities were adequate for the needs of my courses. 23.9%* 14.8%

(1) Note: "Baumgartner and Steenkamp (2001) proposed respondents might choose a middle category such as neutral "due to evasiveness . . . indecision . . . or indifference" (p. 145). None of these reasons would indicate a truly middle position and might be more equivalent to unsure". References: Baumgartner, H., & Steenkamp, JB. E. M. (2001). Response styles in marketing research: A cross national investigation. Journal of Marketing Research, 38, 143156. *Percentage increased in the Fall 2012 comparing with the Spring 2012

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In a typical week, how many hours do you spend studying outside the classroom?

Table 6

In a typical week, how many hours do you spend studying outside the classroom?

Frequency Percent

1-5 325 40.3%

6–10 308 38.2%

11–20 123 15.3%

21–30 38 4.7%

30+ 12 1.5%

Total 806 100.0%

Missing (n=19)

Figure 6

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Section IV

How do you describe your experience at AUC?

[Please indicate if you had a positive experience or if you faced any problem(s)]? Methodology: The open ended question was categorized into four categories: Positive comments, Negative comments, General comments and Suggestions. The Positive comments were assessed using the count frequency in MS Word. The words that appeared most frequently were aggregated and then enumerated as dominant themes.

I: Positive comments:

♠ Dominant theme: Beneficial, Wonderful, Interesting, Useful, Overwhelming, Great and positive experience: It has been an overwhelming experience, lots of changes and adjustments. It is a nice experience, very funny and a lot of things to do. It is a very helpful experience and very beautiful and is helping me get mature. It is fantastic and helpful. Very new experience (30*). A good experience to have (20*). Interesting (3*) Very good I think it is helpful & interesting. AUC is a very good university, I had a wonderful experience. It was the best time of my life. It was nice, I am enjoying it. Nice Satisfying Exciting (8*) Love the society & the people. It’s a positive experience till now. My experience at AUC has been great so far Acceptable Very positive, helpful, fun, liberating & enjoyable experience that helped me develops my skills and

personality. Nice, interesting classes to some extent. It was good and interesting. I got to know professional professors in their field that really helped. Positive but can be better. AUC has added a lot to my life experience and I expect more. Once in a life time experience. It has been great so far. Until now it’s fun and very challenging. Pleasant Satisfying till yet Socially & academically acceptable. It was a splendid one, I learnt a lot. It’s a good university, with good facilities.

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Section V

The experience at AUC although I suffered from poor time management but novel and challenging. Teacher assistants are really very helpful. My experience at AUC was helpful in terms of education and excitement as this is my 1

st year at the

university. Adventurous Perfect It has been a unique experience especially with the protests. Overall it has been a good experience.

1

Fruitful experience Far easy to balance between academic and social life. I would describe it as beneficial, self-improving and meaningful. My experience at AUC is a useful one; I learnt a lot of things in a short time. My experience at AUC has been a pleasant one. I feel that there’s too much workload and I’m worried

about my GPA and it’s only the 1st

semester. Good enough (6*) Fun Better than expected. Amazing (15*) So far so good. Very interesting slightly hectic the 1

st week.

Professors are friendly. Great Pretty different. It’s a positive experience, and I am glad I attend this university. Although we faced problems, we were

able to manage though and stay on schedule. Not very stressful, and sort of fun yet informative. Good social life. Academic excellence. It’s similar to high school It’s easy & fun. Very nice so far but could definitely be better. It’s a good experience 7 a new life. Fun better than expected (9*) Beneficial Good courses, great teachers & education. The students are friendly and the staff is helpful. A lot of facilities (12*). It is challenging and somewhat nice and difficult (7*) Knowledgeable & interesting It is not very easy to blend in the community, but people are very friendly and they make it easier.

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*number of repeating the same word or sentence

♠ Dominant theme: Learning new skills & time management:

However I have learnt a lot about myself and how to deal with people. My experience during my first semester was very eventful. I did not attend FYE last semester, this is my

2nd

one. Last semester was pretty much experimental for me. I learnt many different things, life lessons that will help me all through my life.

New type of academic life, and essential to manage our time. It’s a good experience, where you learn new skills from the courses and at the same time enjoy a rich

social life. Learn out new things. It was useful and helpful; I learned a lot of good things. I learned how to manage my time (8*) It helped me to work on my time management and be more responsible.

♠ Dominant theme: Making New Friends and participate in activities:

It’s very helpful and makes you sociable. It was a good experience which introduced me to the AUC community. I enjoyed sociable life It was fun new experience which led me to meet new people (22*) Social life is very good (7*) The faculty and student body are nice and I was able to stay connected to my old friends, in addition to

making new ones too. I joined charity work and clubs (4*).

♠ Dominant theme: Smooth transition and adaptation:

My experience at AUC made it easy for me to adjust to the transition from school by knowing what facilities I can access and where they are.

It is fine; I didn’t face any problems yet. Everything is going on smoothly. It has been a nice experience for me so far. I did have some difficulties at first but then I adjusted myself

into following specific studying procedures which proved to be successful. I didn’t have any disagreement with anyone or anything at AUC.

AUC doesn’t feel like a new and strange place anymore, I am starting to get used to it and it feel much more comfortable overall, am enjoying my classes.

I was able to transit from high school to university with care; I am enjoying my time here at AUC. I found it easy to transit from school to college (7*). I really don’t find a big difference between high school and university (5*).

♠ Dominant theme: Different from school

Different It’s a totally new and different experience for me as it’s a new life shifting to a higher level from school to

university, as well as, adapting with different requirements from me as a college student. I am enjoying my time at AUC and I find it a nice university.

Till now it’s a good experience but extremely different from that of school. I honestly prefer school, making permanent friends is somehow difficult.

It was a great move from high school to AUC. But I am very happy here because all people here are professionals. I hope to succeed here.

New, completely different than the one I had in school but very interesting. Trying to adapt to the new system (7*). A compete different transition from high school. However I could be happier (6*)

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II: Negative comments: So far everything is very good, but the strike made me have a lot of extra work to do to be on track till the

end of the semester (2*). The strike definitely is the worst thing that happened. Time management is really difficult for me as I

spend almost 2 hours every day to get back home due to traffic. I am having some hard tie with one of my professors which is rally stressing me other than that I am

happy! Till now . Though I didn’t like what happened at the gates, it was a pleasurable experience for me. My experience so far is not very good; I am having some problems with studying & time management

(14). Confusing & fast & tiring experience (5*). Stressful and a bit overwhelming. It’s a good experience but I am actually a bit disappointed at the educational level of this university. I

expected it to be more professional and advanced. It’s more of a club than a university (2*). Not as good as I thought it would be. But need to study hard as the university is too difficult and we have a lot of deadlines. It’s full of ups and downs but downs are more than ups! (2*) In a serious need for more commitment and modification. The presence of cigarettes butts is some classes is very annoying. I thought that it would be something of higher standards than that but I find it great compared to other

universities in Egypt. Also the food is so expensive and I don’t pay less than 30 LE per day which is unacceptable.

I expected a lot more out of this university considering how it‘s expensive than many other prestigious universities.

Some of the professors do not have the ability to teach and some do not even speak proper English. Not all professors are qualified (8*)

I had some difficulties due to the new system. So far so good except when it comes to registering for courses, then the hell is about to begin (8). Academically not so good (7*) Sub-par with my expectations. The community feels shallow and unconstructive. Courses so far do not present challenge to thinking and are quite boring (8*). Not providing a change for further improves my academic knowledge compared to what I took in high

school. At first I didn’t know the system, grading and what should I do in courses. I felt I wasn’t good enough and

that it was my problem because I went to an internship with AISEC to India willing to improve my skills but unfortunately we didn’t work at all.

The gap between classes and my bus time are hectic as I stay in university. Social life is not that good With difficulties due to inability to adapt to AUC system. Registration for courses is very difficult for non-freshmen Work load is heavy (11*). Don’t live the fact that I have 3 out of 5 professors to be Egyptians. I expected something different; time management is difficult due to traffic and distance of the campus.

Although I enjoy going to university every day, I found it difficult to find availability and access to all courses.

Bus service isn’t very good (7*). It’s extremely hard, too much is being asked for and the free time is very rare. There’s too much stress

and its nerve wrecking. It’s awful having AYB 4

th days, the day before having 2 mid-terms. Having science and non- science

students in a science class is injustice, since non-students are struggling and science students are delayed so non-science can keep up with them.

19

Some professors are not helpful while others are really are. However gaps between classes are too much The problem is with the schedule. The courses are not spread over the week so at some days I have 1

class and others I have 4. This is a bit difficult to adapt to. My only problem is that I go home really late because of the bus and traffic (3*). I am very disappointed to not find my minor and major.

III: General:

I like AUC so far but I am a bit under pressure because I have midterms coming up. It’s been quite a good experience so far but I can’t judge, not much time have been spent. Didn’t make the most out of it yet. I describe it as a useful experience, it’s a bit difficult at first but it will help me a lot in my life. It’s between neutral and good. I had some expectations that were fulfilled but I found out some things

that I didn’t like. I hope it becomes a great life experience. I am trying my best to cope with university life and adulthood Not bad (6*) I have little difficulty Different from expectations (8*). It has been an important process where I have more responsibility and freedom of my actions and

education. Weird. I still can’t judge about AUC, it’s just few weeks; anyway I started to cope with the atmosphere here. I thought it would be better. Somehow positive Till now it’s not very positive because I have been postponing my assignments and studying. But aside

from this it’s fun. Good grades are easier to get at AUC than at school. Good so far, I will just wait and see what happens next semester. It’s still the beginning. New beginning to a responsible life. It is not easy to balance between social life and studying

IV: Suggestions: 1. Credit transfer policy IB requires amendment. 2. I think the 4th day of FYE is the most important day as we have something to talk about and we have a

background on the university. 3. I guess we need more helpful advisors (2*). 4. Exams should be more challenging. 5. A library course should be conducted in the first semester 6. I need some more time to ensure my academic future and declare that I will have fun. 7. Having a 4th day of FYE before the mid-terms is extremely disappointing but other than this is going well

& smooth 8. FYE was fun, but keep in mind mid-terms (6*)

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